I definitely intend to create my own work in the future so that we don't have to keep saying we don't have work for black women. But right now I don't know what's next. I hope that there are more opportunities to come my way.

As actors, you become an expert at starting over.

It's great to have something to dress up for. You know, I spent three years in slacks at drama school, so now I like putting a dress on.

As human beings, what makes us able to empathize with people is a connection that is not necessarily understood mentally.

You win an Oscar, and immediately people ask how you feel. So you don't have time to actually feel anything because you have to generate a response. And then some of the feelings you have are so intimate and visceral, words don't really do them justice.

What I've learned from myself is that I don't have to be anybody else. Myself is good enough.

I went to an all-boys high school, and they accepted girls in only the two A.P. classes. They had these archaic rules: for example, girls couldn't wear makeup. I found it so outrageous that an all-boys school could tell girls to not wear makeup! So I went on a campaign. I got a petition signed and everything. If a girl wants to wear makeup to boost confidence, why not?